Five Questions with Michael Williamson of A&B Packing

According to their website,A&B Packing Equipmentis a family owned U.S. company with a multi-agricultural background. We design and manufacture cutting-edge equipment for the 21st Century that enables growers to meet the challenges of cleaning, grading, weighing and packaging fresh produce in the most innovative, gentle, accurate, and speed-efficient ways possible.

Growing Magazine:
With the addition of the Lakewood Process Machinery product line, what are the goals and expectations for A&B Packing Equipment going forward?

Michael Williamson:
In the past we have always been known for our innovation, and service. The ability to push ourselves more than our competitors through the relationships and input from our customers! Formerly thought to be the world largest producer, engineer, and supplier of fresh packing and processing equipment, we now know this as a fact! Combining the experience and expertise of these two product lines, the forward thinking of ownership, and our Engineering staff we will offer a hybrid product line that answers to the call of the world’s future fresh packing and processing needs! Our Goals and expectations are to continue to be the world’s leader in this industry. To pave the way in offering more solutions to those that have vision and desire to lead and continue to lead!

Growing Magazine:
How do you keep up with the technology plus cleaning and grading equipment advances/changes year after year?

Williamson:
We Come from Agriculture, which means we deal with allot of the same hardships, challenges, and opportunities as our customers. Their input and our experience drives our R&D department in testing new innovative ideas, thinking outside of the box we inspire our Engineers with the demands of the world, and have the resources for testing equipment theory with our own farm products. This allows us to go to the market with confidence and authority. We also work with customers closely during the launch of new gear, and testing units that are particular to them (customer)! In our company we have Innovation summits to involve the whole staff, as team work is an important part of our family, and has another direct effect on our proven success!

It is our vision to process and package the worlds products with innovation. It is our Mission to provide the most efficient, innovative, quality equipment, and service; delivered on time at the greatest value, and to always meet our customers’ needs.

Growing Magazine:
Describe the connection with your customers and being able to delivery on your products/services?

Williamson:
Like I mentioned before, Our innovation comes from necessity. We are the Grower, We are the Farmer, We are the Packer! Whenever our customers are challenged with new demands by Government regulations, GAP audits, sanitation or their own desire to stand out and be better than the next guy. We are right there by their side going through the same process of reasoning! When a customer comes to us with ideas we listen. When a customer comes to us for solutions…….they don’t just buy our equipment, they gain our council, they inherit a Team of people that are committed to their goals and success, as their success means our success!

At A&B Lakewood we have a lot of culture and deep history in agriculture. We understand cash flow, and the fact that we have to make a living for a year or sometimes three years in a single growing season! When someone needs help during season they need it now! There livelihood is on the line, or maybe there child’s college education is on the line, or the future of their farm. Anyway you say it, there’s allot riding on a short time frame for possible success! A&B Lakewood understands that. There cannot be late deliveries. if you need help you need help today, not next week or some other time, the season is to short. In a world of can’t we A&B can, So customer relationships is the core for us. We live as servants. We may be a family business that’s growing fast, and looking for new technology, and innovation, but when it comes to customers we stride on the side of tradition. Big or small they’re all important to us. My parents always kept, and my father still keeps a photo album of all the customers he could serve, and I carry on that tradition today in a digital album!

Growing Magazine:Located in Michigan, your company has been recognized as part of an industry that’s one of the largest in the state. Describe the importance of A&B Packing not only becoming a leader in its field but for the area as well.

Williamson:
Well, I am proud to say that A&B Packing Equipment was awarded in our capital as 1 of the top 50 companies to watch in Michigan. Recognized by SBAM as a large contributor to over 2,700 jobs that small business’s provide in the state of Michigan! Not becoming a leader but remaining a leader in our field, we are now Globally recognized in over thirty countries, and will continue to grow with the support of our Great State, our local communities, and our customers from around the world. We have two locations in Hartford, One Lakewood location in Holland, and our Headquarters in Lawrence. Locally, it gives our small communities a sense of pride as passersby see our big sign out front:“Home and producers of the Fastest, most Gentle & accurate Fresh Pack Equipment on earth” A&B Packing Equipment World Headquarters, Lawrence Mi.

Growing Magazine:
Where do you think the future of the packing industry is heading in near-term? Long-term?

Williamson:
There is allot of pressure on grower, producer, packagers to meet weight! A&B has changed the culture of our industry By delivering several Models of weigh and fill machines with a far superior accuracy compared to competitors, proven by Customers, and backed by Data. Known as the Evolution! The Blueberry Evolution, The Tomato Evolution, The Cherry Evolution, and the Mushroom Evolution! The name came from not supporting Darwinism, but from the Evolutions predecessor The Speedy Accu fill. Although 10 years old it is only second to what it has evolved to be “The Evolution” We Historically are a young company, celebrating 20 years of excellence, But now in 2015 we have introduced the next Generation of Evolution The Evo G2 with all the things packers dream of